Reviewer:
AJS/110
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August 22, 2013
Subject:
Program Synopsis
Adventures of Superman was an action/adventure TV program following the exploits of the titular comic book superhero, a super-powered being from another planet disguised as newspaper reporter Clark Kent. Played by George Reeves, Clark appears mild-mannered amongst his peers Lois Lane (Phyllis Coates first season, Noel Neill onward) and Jimmy Olsen (Jack Larson), but he uses his secret identity to fight criminals and offer lessons in morality.
Broadcast from September 19, 1952 until April 28, 1958, the program followed the success of the Adventures of Superman radio show, which ended in 1951 after 11 years. Like the radio show, the Adventures of Superman was broadcast by ABC and sponsored by Kellogg's, with the latter inserting its name in the intro and integrating advertisements into the show until Warner Bros. Television received distribution rights. The show was shot in various locations of Los Angeles, and although each episode had a ridiculously low budget of $15,000, the makers of the show were not afraid to use special effects.
The above feature, "Stamp Day For Superman", is a special episode that was not shown on air, but rather at grade schools to promote savings stamps to children. As such, it is the only episode under public domain.
- AJS/110